A Marriage of Lions

by Elizabeth Chadwick

England, 1238

Raised at the court of King Henry III as a chamber lady to the queen, young Joanna of Swanscombe's life changes forever when she comes into an inheritance far above all expectations, including her own.

Now a wealthy heiress, Joanna's arranged marriage to the King's charming, tournament-loving half-brother William de Valence immediately stokes the flames of political unrest as more established courtiers object to the privileges bestowed on newcomers.

As Joanna and William strive to build a life together, England descends into a bitter civil war. In mortal danger, William is forced to run for his life, and Joanna is left with only her wit and courage to outfox their enemies and prevent them from destroying her husband, her family, and their fortunes.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Medieval, Historical, Fiction, Romance, British Literature, 13th Century

512 pages, Paperback

First published September 9, 2021

About the author

Best selling historical novelist Elizabeth Chadwick won a Betty Trask Award for her first novel The Wild Hunt. She has been shortlisted for the UK's mainstream Best Romantic Novel of the Year Award 4 times and longlisted twice. Her novel The Scarlet Lion about the great William Marshal and his wife Isabelle de Clare, has been selected by Richard Lee, founder of the Historical Novel Society as one of the landmark historical novels of the last ten years.
When not at her desk, she can be found taking long walks with the dog, baking cakes, reading books (of course!) exploring ruins, listening to various brands of rock and metal music, and occasionally slaving over a steaming cauldron with re-enactment society Regia Anglorum.

Reviews

[Laura Tenfingers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has all the elements of an amazing Chadwick novel but sadly somewhat watered down and our female main character is a complete ninny.

I'm a huge Elizabeth Chadwick fan and think she's the historical fiction Queen of embodying what life may have been like for women in the Middle Ages; details of their daily activities, ways of seeing the world, honor codes, fears... And while she's at it you learn some history.

This novel takes us to the Court of Henry III around the time of the Second Baron's War. And interestingly, unlike most novels about this period, Chadwick tells it from the perspective of the de Lusignan brothers as being loyal to Henry III and painting Simon de Montfort in a very bad light.

She tells this tale through the eyes of Joanna, granddaughter of our much loved William Marshall, and her husband William de Valence (nee de Lusignan). Usually I love the couple she uses as her main characters but here Joanna is a supreme ninny while William is a sweet, loyal, devoted but hot-headed beauty of a man. He seemed too much like a 21st-century woman's wet dream. In the 13th century he would have been a unicorn. Sorry, just not realistic. And Joanna alternated between being a whey-faced ninny and a know-it-all lecturing her husband on how to behave himself. Boooooring. And then it ends without really getting to the end.

The hidden history lesson was a bit too oversimplified so I didn't learn anything new. I'd recommend Falls the Shadow by Sharon Kay Penman over this one, but Penman paints de Montfort as a hero so maybe reading both of them is the best way to get both sides of the story.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't wait to read this and pounced on it as soon as my beautiful review copy arrived. It is fantastic! Once again, the author returns to the Marshal family with Joanna of Swanscombe, the granddaughter of William and Isabelle Marshal. This is the utterly engrossing and captivating story of Joanna's marriage to Henry III's half-brother William de Valence, set against the backdrop of civil war against that extraordinary figure of Simon de Montfort. I was particularly fascinated by the depiction of Henry III's marriage but Joanna and William take centre stage and shine in this fabulous, immersive novel. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.

[Peggyzbooksnmusic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated 4 stars. Historical fiction set in 13th century England by Elizabeth Chadwick, one of my favorite authors. The main character is Joanna de Swanscombe who is William Marshall's granddaughter. While still in her teens she is married to William de Valence, the half-brother of Henry III. Even though it is an arranged marriage they fall deeply in love. What I love about this author's novels is how she brings the main and secondary characters to life. Plus she tells Joanna and William's love story while weaving in all of the historical events and court intrigue transpiring during the reign of Henry III.

The Author's Notes at the end explains some of the liberties she took with the characters names and she also elaborates on this time in history. There is also an extensive Bibliography included. Highly recommend if you want a heartwarming love story with strong characters and interesting Medieval history.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Marriage of Lions by Elizabeth Chadwick is an excellent historical fiction novel that brings us straight into the heart of the 13th century during the reign of Henry III. It has it all: history, intrigue, action, romance, passion, loss, mystery, suspense, and an excellent narrative that was gripping from beginning to end.

I have read several books by Ms. Chadwick and have loved every one of them, so I knew when I saw this newest book that I had to read it. I am yet again very impressed.

The author has a stunning ability to take true historic characters and be able to weave a relatable, honest, and fascinating narrative that fills in areas of uncertainty and really takes the historic notes and creates a story with a flourish that is truly addictive. The story of the power/ruling struggles between Henry III, his family, the nobleman, and the push/pull relationships that took place was enthralling. I have read about Simon de Montfort, however not as much about William de Valence- King Henry III's half-brother that was challenging in his own right (that I can remember), nor of his wife Joanna at all.

Chadwick was great in weaving a story that fit within the historical timeframe, events, and interweaved the fictional tale into the nonfictional line. If she was anything in real life as she was so carefully and creatively depicted here in this story, she was an impressive woman that was born well before her time.

I loved taking a trip into the past into the medieval times of England and immerse myself into the royals, court intrigues, and all of the struggles and battles for control and power that were associated.

A great journey.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Sphere/Little, Brown Book Group UK for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion. I am posting this review to my GR, Bookbub, Instagram, Amazon, and B&N accounts upon publication.

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[Geoff Boxell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have several novels on the 2nd Baron's War: the others all favour Simon de Montfort, whereas this one is taken from the counterpoint of Henry III's half brothers, particularly William who married an heiress of the Marshal family, grand-daughter of teh great William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke.
Joanna of Swanscombe was not an heiress when she was found a place in the household of Henry III's wife but circumstances changed and, as a wealthy ward of court, she is married off to one of the King's French half brothers, William de Valence. It was a marriage that, from contemporary correspondence, appears to have been a happy and loving one and this is reflected in the novel.
Normally I give Elizabeth Chadwick's historical novels five stars, but this one? Well it was not the usual page turner: too much family and babies and not enough action. I got to Page 350 and thought "at last - the chance of action!" Prince Edward and William are going to be besieged, but, no. Battle of Lewes, which I knew William was involved in just gets a passing mention when Joanna gets a message about it. The critical Battle of Evesham? Well about about three pages, but none of it really informative.
The author states that the book was a result of reading a biography on Joanna the writer of which felt that Jonna has been overlooked and misrepresented. Well, I appreciate the desire to bring her story to life, and it is far more her story than that of her husband, but I found that I wasn't that interested and gave a sigh of relief when I had finished it: sorry and all that.

[farR · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is one of two who are my all time favourite historical fiction writers. The other is the late Sharon Kay Penman. So as usual the writing is brilliant and the book maintains her reputation as an author who brings history to life.

Now, the story. I read Penman’s (a few others’ too) more favourable accounts of Simon de Montfort sometimes ago in one the 3 books in her Welsh triology series. So it was quite difficult to bring my mind around to the kind of man he was as portrayed in this book. Also the main grouse that said to have brought about the barons war (led by de Monfort) in this book was “favouritism to foreigners” (as opposed to reforms which was barely mentioned) which sounds ironic because de Montfort himself was a foreigner and had been fighting for inheritance himself (on behalf of his wife). So I can’t understand the support he would have got from the English barons to join his cause.

Anyway, her version of de Montfort aside, I love her story of William de Valence and Joanna, and Ms Chadwick remains one of my favourite authors and her books will still be my instant buys.

[Jean-Luc · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sumptuous Medieval
tapestry taking place over
several decades during the tumultuous reign of
Henry III and his queen
Alienor of Provence, this
rollicking and truculent fictional feat embodies
all the best that English
historical fiction has to offer today.
Murderous grudges, family jealousies and boundless political ambitions collide at breathtaking speed and erupt in uncontrollable
violence admist the razzle-dazzle of the world of chivalry and its complex knightly system.
An unforgettable and fiery maelstrom of personal squabbles and political shenanigans that always threaten to topple down a teetering throne upon which seats a rather weak monarch. Historically accurate and cleverly plotted this magnificent novel should definitely please anyone interested in 13th century England and some its darkest and most violent aspects. Blessed with a cast of very colorful and unforgettable characters, this bold and entertaining historical romp deserves to be enjoyed without any moderation whatsoever👍👍

Many thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown for this terrific ARC

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading this mixing in with other activities as I was familiar with the period portrayed and the main characters. Chadwick does a good job keeping the historical detail lively.
1200's timeframe, King Henry III but the main characters include those who wish for civil war - not an easy time period to have lived in. Plenty of jealousy, hatred and swordplay.
It is at a great price right now from Amazon. 99 cents

[Welmoed · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. Stopped at 28%.
Couldn’t get myself to continue reading this book, it was boring to read about the children growing up. One thing that bugged me: The date above the chapters. Yes it helps knowing what year it is but honestly I couldn’t remember the date of the previous chapter so I had no clue how many years had passed and how old Joanna was.

[Kelsey Langenfeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐. Not my favorite Elizabeth Chadwick to be honest. I found the characters to be slightly forgettable and wooden.

[Erin Remen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful, well written and masterful take on the lives of Joanna De Valence and her husband William De Valence and the incredible and troubled lives they lived as stout allies of King Henry III. A moving tale that shows clearly the love they had for each other, their children, their King and country. I honestly struggled to put it down and found myself devouring any and all information i could find on the couple and the people that surrounded them. A five star read for me!

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this to begin with but the last 1/4 became a real slog.

[P.R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read many of this author's books years ago, and I remember really enjoying them. I thoroughly enjoyed this, although it's a long read and at times I had to stop my attention from wandering. Elizabeth Chadwick's attention to mediaeval detail is superb, and one is drawn right into the daily lives of characters - most of whom actually lived in those difficult times.

A great read, and I've awarded it four and a half stars. Would I read it again? Not sure, but it has made me want to revisit some of her older titles.

[Heidi (MinxyD14) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly exceptional work of historical fiction. I will acknowledge that almost all of my other reviews express my love for Chadwick's work; however, this really is one of her best. The love story is beautiful, and the writing is lyrical and confident.

Her talent is one of a kind and in a class of its own. The Author's notes are a great addition and will fill you in on not only the author's passionate perspective but the factual outcome of these real-life characters. If you have never read her work and you are a fan of the time period, this is a great example of a chivalric or courtly love story that is not sappy. Add in the fact that there is a raging conflict in the background that leads up to the Second Baron's war and you have a perfectly balanced novel. I love history and always feel just a wee bit smarter after a Chadwick book.

This was well worth the wait for it to be published.

Helen Stern is a new narrator for me and overlooking a few bizarre pronunciations, the Audible version was good. It is definitely on my repeat list.

[jrendocrine at least reading is good · Rating 2 out of 5]

Second Chadwick I haven’t finished due to disinterest - read 54%. zzzzzz. Need to remind myself of this when I think I will open a new one.

[BookAddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

While some readers have disliked this, I am not one of them. While I didn't love it as much as other Elizabeth Chadwick novels this was still fascinating. I'm so. interested in this period and found so much that was interesting I couldn't put it down. Joanna is at times frustrating and tough but a master politician - both a ninny and a matriarch as was required of her in this time and honestly not much has changed. Interesting characters, great plot and masterfully researched history.

[Mela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely better than The Irish Princess. I had in "A Marriage of Lions" not only deeply researched historical events and persons, but also narration and voice (and characters) that gripped me, and made me feel not only those times but those people too.

What to add? As Heidi wrote: "this really is one of her best. The love story is beautiful, and the writing is lyrical and confident."

By the way, it was interesting (and a bit odd) seeing the story of Simon de Montfort from the other side, different than that in magnificent Falls the Shadow by Sharon Kay Penman.

If you don't know my previous reviews of Elizabeth Chadwick's novels you can look at those I have read first - you will understand why she is such a marvelous writer.

[Robert Webber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Elizabeth Chadwick’s ‘Eleanor of Aquitaine’ series which spins interesting fiction from the threads of real historical events and characters. I was therefore looking forward to reading this book which follows the life of Joanna de Valence a real historical character in the court of Henry III and a clever and resourceful lady. The first half of the novel is however rather ponderous without truly developing an understanding of the motivations of the principal characters. The narrative does become more engrossing in the latter half of the book but by then I felt that I just wanted to get to the end. The proposition that Simon de Montfort, often lauded as an heroic protagonist in the development of British democracy, was actually a rapacious and unprincipled rogue is argued deftly. That said, reference to recent historical works concerning the career of de Montfort, can provide such insights without the fictional baggage of this novel. I would recommend Elizabeth Chadwick’s Eleanor of Aquitaine novels starting with ‘The Winter Queen’ before embarking upon this somewhat stolid effort.

[Helen Hollick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Discovering Diamonds Reviewer's Choice
Selected for Cover of the Month

An auspicious match. An invitation to war.

As usual with Ms Chadwick's absorbing and beautifully written novels, we follow the main characters - in this case, Joanna and William, through the years, watching them mature and grow, struggling with them through their challenges, sharing their laughter and tears.

As with most novels centred around the facts of our past, there are desperate times, violent times, tragic times, and time for tender love, all of which Ms Chadwick handles with skilful dexterity. Her ability as a writer is second to none, matching the lives of people we may never have heard of alongside the more famous characters of the thirteenth century.

Possibly, for some readers the first few chapters may feel a little slow but the pace picks up at the gallop as the ground-rush of historical events swells and grows to dangerous proportion. A time of quiet peace this era was not...

Highly recommended

Originally Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't come across many novels about Henry III and Eleanor of Provence, so I was pleased to find that they are major characters in Elizabeth Chadwick’s new novel, A Marriage of Lions. The main focus of the story, however, is Henry’s younger half-brother, William de Valence, and his wife, Joanna de Munchensy of Swanscombe. Those of you who are avid readers of Chadwick’s novels will know that she has a particular interest in William Marshal, hero of The Greatest Knight, and that many of her recent books have featured various members of the Marshal family. This is another, as Joanna de Munchensy is one of William Marshal’s grandchildren.

The novel opens in 1238 with the eight-year-old Joanna serving as a chamber lady at the court of Henry III and Eleanor of Provence (or Alienor as Chadwick spells the name). With several older male relatives, Joanna is seen as an insignificant member of the Marshal family until a sudden change in circumstances leaves her a very wealthy young woman with lands and titles of her own. In 1247, the King’s half-brothers – the sons of his mother Isabella of Angoulême’s second marriage to Hugh of Lusignan – arrive from France to take up positions at Henry’s court. The King becomes particularly fond of his youngest half-brother, William de Valence, and rewards him with marriage to Joanna, now one of the richest heiresses in England.

Although it’s an arranged marriage, it turns out to be a very happy one – but there are many at court who are not at all pleased with the favour being shown to William and his brothers. The powerful Simon de Montfort and his wife, the King’s sister, believe that part of the Marshal inheritance belongs to them and they set out to make life as difficult for William and Joanna as they possibly can. Meanwhile Queen Eleanor becomes resentful of the influence William and the other Lusignans wield over her young son, Prince Edward, and her previously good relationship with Joanna grows tense and strained. As the atmosphere becomes more and more hostile and the King’s power begins to weaken, Simon de Montfort and his barons see their chance to seize control of the throne and suddenly William and Joanna find themselves driven away from court as the country heads towards civil war.

I always enjoy Elizabeth Chadwick’s novels and this is another great one. Although I found it a bit slow to start with – the first half of the book is devoted mainly to the early days of Joanna’s marriage to William and the domestic details of their lives together – once the tension starts to build between the different factions surrounding the throne and the events leading to the Second Barons’ War get underway, it quickly became difficult to put down. I have read about this war before but only from the points of view of de Montfort and the King and Queen, so it was interesting to see things from the Lusignan/Marshal perspective. Simon de Montfort is very much the villain here (the lack of nuance in his characterisation was one of the few things that disappointed me about this book) and there’s a sense that the Lusignans are unfairly targeted because they are ‘foreign newcomers’ and because of the preferential treatment they are believed to receive from Henry. The King himself is caught in the middle and it’s quite sad to see how weak and ineffective he eventually becomes.

I loved Joanna and William and the way their marriage is depicted. Their relationship is a close and affectionate one, based on trust and love, but the sensible, practical Joanna often finds herself frustrated by her husband’s more impulsive nature which leads him to make mistakes and damage both of their reputations at court. There’s not much information available on the real historical figures, particularly Joanna, but Chadwick’s portrayal feels convincing and believable and I enjoyed getting to know them both.

Among the secondary characters in this book, my favourite was Leonora (Eleanor) of Castile, the young wife of the future Edward I. She’s such a strong and vivid character, I wondered whether Elizabeth Chadwick might have her in mind as the subject of a future novel – and it seems that I was right, so that’s something to look forward to!

[Shadon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Looking at the wreckage in cold daylight, it seemed to him almost symbolic of his brother’s reign. So much promise and beauty, not fully destroyed, and yet utterly ruined.

So this wasn't very good, like not at all. It was quite awful, in fact, and I so desperately wanted to like it that I am still grappling with the face of its painful mediocrity. I started writing this review less than halfway through the book because I already knew what my complaints would be, and I had so many feelings to put to paper that it simply could not wait. Despite promising a lush, historical romance, complete with court intrigue and a sweeping scope, A Marriage of Lions fulfils none of those promises. It reads more like a stage play than a historical novel. Quite clearly, that works for most people, but it does not work well for me. The characters, the dialogue, the revolving door of sets, and shifting loyalties seem written for a play that can be acted out on stage, and these things created such a chasm of detachment that I formed absolutely no connection to anyone or anything.

This book consists of terrible, bland characters spouting dialogue that oscillates between verbose platitudes and grandiose emotional confessions. It is hindered not only but its terribleness, but also by its inauthenticity to the time period. Do not be fooled, they did not talk like this. They did not randomly start spewing about morality and the evils of behavior during otherwise irrelevant conversation. Other authors I've read have found a much better balance for readability and accuracy that does not drag the book way down. Those who lived in medieval times were people, too. They did not exist in some separate space, completely removed from us and our current reality. They were us. They made crude, bawdy jokes and sometimes spoke simply. They may have spoken more fanciful phrases than our modern sensibilities would be accustomed to, but not in every single instance.

During this book (particularly in the first half), a character could complain that their back hurts, and the response will, for some reason, be, "Your back hurts from all the burdens you have to carry. But take heart, for the sun is bright and God is good, and time heals all wounds. Have faith in the world we inhabit and be merry." Erm. WHAT??? It was annoying in the first few instances and then completely insufferable the next twenty. I had to grit my teeth and numb myself to it, or I would never have finished at all. Even if you wished to maintain the form of dialogue, surely there was a way to make it more fitting, more sensible. More of anything but unbearable drivel that yanked me right out of the story.

She was glad that her place in the world was not exalted. Better to be a pawn on the edges, or not on the board at all.

Speaking of unbearable, the characters sucked. They hardly even felt like real people. We don't know them at all, and we never even come close to knowing them. They are near strangers from start to finish. Mind you, this book is over 500 pages long. Such a wide net of historical personalities, and nothing about any of them even bordered on interesting. They all acted the same way, said the same things, and behaved as if they were the same bland people. Most of them hardly had any personality at all, or behaved according to their one personality trait. Simon de Montfort is angry and hates the king, the Queen loves her uncles, and the King is pious and hates conflict. Yada, yada. Sure, some loyalties shifted and alliances were formed and reformed, but it never felt like it meant anything. This is what you do with the historical material? I understand the difficulty in juggling such a wide cast of characters and giving each their due importance, but I feel like you didn't even try.

The characters who do have a role in the narrative and who do have begrudging personalities all suck. They're aggravating and unlikeable, and I have no idea who I'm supposed to root for. I wanted them all to explode into a ball of fire. They are so incredibly stupid. We follow Joanna from her childhood in the Queen's service into her married life with William. And yet, five children later, an entire inheritance and a whirlwind of changing politics, I could not tell you a single thing about her. I couldn't describe her at all. She's somewhat intelligent and thinks quickly, but I think that's it? Who is that woman? What does she want? I was stuck in her head for over twenty years, and not once did I connect to her. William fared a little better. He was rash and headstrong and loyal to his brother but he was also so damn unlikeable. Goodness, was he insufferable. So between Miss Lack-of-Personality and Mr. Get-on-my-nerves, who was I supposed to root for? I was hoping Simon de Montfort leaped the boundaries of history and managed to triumph.

There was a moment when one of the characters, John de Warenne, gave William a book because "I know you like to read." Does he??? At that point, we've never seen him picking up a book, or even thinking about picking up a book. We've hardly seen him do anything but ride horses and train in the practice yard. But here, we are told that William likes a thing we've not even seen him partake in. That's when I gave up on this book, but decided to keep reading because I was still determined to finish it, and I apparently have no self-control.

This came to everyone. All the striving. All the hopes and fears and joys and sorrows, stoppered and silenced and turned to worms.

I came into this expecting a sweeping, historical romance, transcending the barriers of time. But there was almost no romance to speak of. William and Joanna meet, fall in love almost instantly, and then they're married. No buildup or yearning or anything, just go, go, go, like a galloping horse. There was no chemistry, no companionship, no compatibility. No nothing. Despite it constantly being beaten over our heads how in love they were and how close they had become, I just never felt it. There was no emotional connection, no through line. There was no evolution I could discernibly track, no great change in how they treated each other. Hell, they barely seemed to like each other. They spent half their time together arguing and then making amends, proclaiming their love, and then arguing again. I was over it the first time, and then around the tenth time, I was actively rooting for both of them to fall down the stairs.

But perhaps the worst sin this book commits is making the Baron's War boring. One of the richest, most complex periods in medieval English history, with complicated loyalties, copious amounts of backstabbing, a hundred moving parts, quarrelsome factions, and I was bored. Bored! There was so much happening, but also nothing at all. We were stuck in constant stasis and then we were off again, and then wait, we're back to not moving and sitting around. It takes so long to get where it wants to be, getting lost numerous times and falling off its horse, that I stopped caring.

This kept threatening to be good, with chapters punctuated by moments of the intrigue and romance we were promised, but they are often over in a page turn, and we are plunged back into mediocrity. It kept glossing over the actually interesting bits to run back to more estate management and royal petitions. Don't be fooled, I love good a finely detailed stewardship with all the finely minutiae it involves, but not when other interesting things are happening that I'd rather be a part of. It seemed determined simply not to be good at all. There were good moments, but this was not a good book. There was too much to tackle, and what was tackled was not tackled well. When the actual Barons War begins around 400 pages, there were the best stretches of the book by far, but it did not persist, and everything that had come before that was too terrible to earn my forgiveness.

Perhaps I'm being a tad too harsh in my disappointment, but I did not enjoy this one bit. I was eager to read more of the author's countless other medieval English novels, but I'm much more hesitant now.

[Annelies - In Another Era · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joanna of Swanscombe grows up at the court of Henry III and the young queen Alienor of Provence. Through a series of coincidences and tragedies, she suddenly becomes a very wealthy heiress to the Marshall estates. When the king’s Lusignan half-brothers come to live at the English court, Joanna is betrothed to the youngest brother, William of Valence. But Simon De Monfort and Princess Eleanor have been eyeing Joanna’s inheritance for several years and disagree with the influence that William and his brothers have over the king.

I’m way behind in reading Chadwick’s books. She has written several books about William Marshal that I have not yet read, but this book focuses on one of his granddaughters, Joanna. Most books about Henry III and the Second Baron’s War (if there are any at all ;)) focus on the figure of Simon De Montfort. In A marriage of lions, we read about the other side: the king’s Lusignan family. Henry’s mother, Queen Isabelle of Angoulême, remarried with Hugh Of Lusignan after the death of king John and they had several more children.

I really enjoyed this book. As is often the case with Chadwick, it gets off to a slow start, but the characters of Joanna and William felt very lifelike. Their relationship quickly develops into love, which is also beautifully portrayed, and there are many delightful supporting characters: Alienor and Henry, John and Aliza, Aymer and the other brothers, and Edward and Leonora—the future royal couple.

This period is quite complex, but Chadwick chooses a clear angle and thus keeps it focused and manageable. Simon De Montfort is, of course, the main villain, and I found little nuance there, but all the other characters had nuance, which really brought the court of Henry III to life. My personal favorite: the true story of the money in the wool—who says women are only good for the hearth?One of her better books in my opinion!

Dutch review:

Joanna of Swanscombe groeit op aan het hof van Henry III en de jonge koningin Alienor Of Provence. Door een reeks van toevalligheden en tragedies wordt ze plots een hele rijke erfgename van de Marshall landen. Wanneer de halfbroers van de koning aan het Engelse hof komen wonen, wordt Joanna gekoppeld aan de jongste broer, William Of Valence. Maar Simon De Monfort en prinses Eleanor azen al enkele jaren op Joanna haar erfenis en zijn niet akkoord met de invloed die William en zijn broers hebben op de koning.

Ik sta dik achter met het lezen van Chadwick haar boeken. Ze schreef meerdere boeken over William Marshal die ik nog niet las, maar in dit boek staat één van zijn kleindochters - Joanna - centraal. De meeste boeken over Henry III en de Second Baron's War focussen vaak op de figuur van Simon De Montfort. In dit boek lezen we over het andere kamp: de Lusignan familie van de koning (Henry's moeder hertrouwde en kreeg nog enkele kinderen).

Ik vond dit echt een goed boek. Zoals vaak bij Chadwick komt het traag op gang, maar de personages van Joanna en William zijn heel levensecht uitgewerkt, hun relatie groeit snel uit tot liefde maar ook dat is mooi neergezet en er zijn heel wat fijne bijpersonages: Alienor en Henry, John en Aliza, Aymer en de andere broers en Edward en Leonora - het latere koningskoppel.

Deze periode is best complex, maar Chadwick kiest een duidelijke invalshoek en houdt het daardoor gefocust en behapbaar. Simon De Montfort is natuurlijk de grote villain, daar vond ik weinig nuance, maar in alle andere personages zat die nuance wel en dat maakt dat het hof van Henry III echt tot leven kwam. Mijn persoonlijke favoriet: het waargebeurde verhaal van het geld in de wol - zeg nu nog eens dat vrouwen enkel voor aan de haard zijn?

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I find my way back into reading for fun, I begin to remember how much I enjoy reading historical fiction. It’s something that my mother and I had in common (my mother and both of my grandmothers were great readers). A Marriage of Lions is simply wonderful.

Simon de Montfort’s legacy is well known but what of the men set against him? The half-siblings of Henry III are remembered as, well, grasping foreigners, but this book delves into their side of the story. Told largely from the perspective of Joanna of Swanscombe, a noblewoman who became an heiress , this is the story of her arranged marriage to William de Valence, the king’s youngest half-brother. Although they do their duty to the king by marrying each other, this is a love story, and it’s also a story of a remarkably strong-willed young woman.

This book is so well-written and so immersive. I admire any author who can make the everyday workings of a household as fascinating as the ongoing political intrigue, and who can move from the beautifully written intimacy of an evolving marriage to the wider war. One of the other things that hits hard is how fragile life was in the thirteenth century. Joanna and her older brother Iohan (John) are sent to court after their father remarries after the death of their mother. The first, most shocking death is that of Iohan, and that’s a warning of what is to come; there is violent death, as one might expect during a time of such unrest, but it is the quiet deaths, in childbirth, of beloved children, that hit the hardest and are written so well.

The relationships between women are also really compelling. Joanna’s mentor, Cecily de Sandford, is a wonderful character, who equips Joanna with the knowledge she needs to navigate life at court. Joanna’s relationship with the Queen changes is fascinating and emphasises just how tenuous her position in court really is.

I also fully appreciate how the author uses different spellings of the same names so we are never in doubt as to the identity of any given character; there is the Queen Alienor and the Spanish princess, Leonora; there is Iohan, and there is John de Warenne.

I’m absolutely going to read more by this author. A Marriage of Lions has re-awoken my interest in historical fiction, particularly that based around English nobility and royalty (and I’m not just saying this as someone who has relatively recently discovered a whole heap of royal ancestry!).

Rating: 5 stars.
TL;DR: a resourceful young woman and an ambitious young man navigate life in the court of Henry III, and loyalty prevails.

[Cel Jel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new Elizabeth Chadwick book! Time to rejoice because the story will roll and the words will sing.
I value how well this author can paint the images in my mind with her pared down words. The story of Joanna Munchensey and William de Valence amd the experiences through the tumultuous times of the Lead up to and the Baron's war and then the final battle that Simon de Montfort fought.
The glimpse at the way that fortune could change for a lower level member of aristocracy due to untimely deaths of others so that they become a valuable person with lands that makes them a valuable marriage prospect. In the King's decision to marry Joanna to his half brother who had settled in England from lands in France he has gifted them a marriage which has love in it as well as politics.
Due to my loving the works of Sharon Kay Penman I had a moment of having to control my response to the portrayal of one of the major characters of the story. Yet that reflects two things, how well Elizabeth writes because I was so reactive and how she made a person who had a larger than life role in the politics at the time larger than life.
Treat yourself to a glimpse of Court, changes in relationships, prejudice against the latest wave of immigrants and how a young resourceful couple and then family survive the difficult times. There is much to help hold a mirror up to our times, yes one day I hope we will learn from history.

[Valerie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

My second Elizabeth Chadwick read, and it was as enjoyable as my first! Having read Sharon Kay Penman's Falls the Shadow, I was already familiar with the debacle of King Henry III, his half siblings, the Lusignans, and Simon de Montfort. Penman's telling of the story is centered around Simon and Elanor de Montfort, whereas Chadwick's version is told from the point of view of their rivals, William and Joanna Lusignan. I enjoyed reading a version of the story where the villains were the heroes and vice versa. The real story was likely somewhere in between.

I loved Joanna's character in this story. She experiences tremendous hardships, yet she always remains hopeful and prevails through her trials, sometimes in spectacular fashion. I love the part where she smuggles a fortune into France inside a shipment of wool. She is intelligent, resourceful, courageous, and fiercely protective of her family.

As long as Chadwick's novels are available on Kindle for 99 cents, I will continue to purchase them without thinking twice. I look forward to reading more books by Elizabeth Chadwick and Sharon Kay Penman!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic novel, which surpassed my expectations and has become one of my favourite Elizabeth Chadwick novels.

The story of William de Valence, Henry III's half-brother, and Joanna de Valence, an eventual co-heiress of the Marshal fortune, this presents the Barons War of the 1260s from a new perspective. I have read plenty of fiction from Simon and Eleanor de Montfort's perspective, or from a royal viewpoint but this is the first I have read from the "villains". Looking at the portrayal of "aliens" was one of the things I most enjoyed at university so this was a major plus for me.

I loved our lead character Joanna, and she was well-developed. The only issue I had was that the Montfort family were all a little one-dimensional. This meant that some of the heartbreak of cousins fighting and killing cousins was missing. And whatever else Simon de Montfort was in life, one-dimensional wasn't it. I still admire him alot, but this novel is a timely reminder to consider all viewpoints before rushing to judgement.

[Jane Gent · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual Elizabeth Chadwick did not disappoint. A belter of a book again. She brings little known, but genuine people to life in the court of the medieval era. I have learned so much from her novels. Anyone with an interest in historical and very well written fiction should read these books. She goes way beyond Philippa Gregory and the like with her attention to detail and accuracy. She is on a different level completely. An expert on #WilliamMarshall, I recommend you start with ‘A Place Beyond Courage’. I was hooked. This one is about his father., moving on to ‘The Greatest Knight’. You will read the whole series I’m sure. This particular book is about Joanna de Valence, in the court of Henry III, the son of King John. Once started, I went straight through it. Highly recommended. She very rarely, if ever gets less than four stars from me.

[Jennifer N · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Joanna of Swanscombe who is the granddaughter of William of Marshall. Due to many familial deaths she becomes a great heiress. She was a ward of the court and was married to King Henry's half brother. It became a love match and was a very successful medieval marriage. It also paints Simon de Montfort in a very negative light and the King's half brothers very favourably which is something that I hadn't read before.
I learned a lot about a woman who I did not know anything about and a very interesting period in history. I really want to know more about Henry's mother Isabella (King John's wife).

[Erika Pollack · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5.

Not my favorite of Chadwick’s novels but I think the hostility being thrown at Joanna in other reviews is honestly not justified at all and reminds me of the hate people give Skyler White in Breaking Bad…like God forbid our girl be cautious dealing with court politics while her husband goes around acting like a damn fool.

Overall, took me way too long to get through despite being only 515 pages. And I think Chadwick has chosen more interesting subjects and historical figures in the past than our protagonists here. But still enjoyed!

[Rhona · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Great read!